Firearms Insurance Agent Blog

Resources for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

After they’ve finished active duty, many veterans turn to life in the private sector. They use the skills and training from their military days to start their own small business. However, starting a small business is never easy, but there are resources out there to help veteran-owned small businesses. Here are some of our favorite resources for veterans:

The Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD)

An off-shoot of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) is specifically designed to help promote veteran entrepreneurship. This program helps veterans procure funds, business opportunities, and connect their businesses with commercial supply chains.

You can go to the OVBD’s website here, or you can reach out to your local Veterans Business Outreach Center.

The Veterans Affairs Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)

It’s a long name, and many people don’t quite understand what it means. Essentially, though, the OSDBU is a resource for veteran-owned businesses to get government contracts and take part in government programs specifically for veterans. These include the following:

• Opportunity Showcase: A program that helps veteran-owned businesses network and market themselves to federal agencies.
• Veteran-Owned Business Verification: This can help you get your small business certified as a veteran-owned business
• Direct Action Program: This program helps veteran-owned businesses compete and earn new business with federal government agencies and commercial corporations.

This is just a sampling of the many resources the OSDBU provides. To learn more, head to their website here.

SCORE Veteran Fast Launch Initiative

SCORE is a resource for small business owners in general, but they also have a division dedicated to veterans. SCORE offers an enormous network of expert business mentors that help you as you build your small business. They are available by phone, video, or email to answer any business-related questions you may have. Some of their mentors are also veterans themselves.

You can check out the SCORE initiative here.

As you’re building up your small business, make sure you have the right business insurance to protect your investments. At Firearms Insurance Agent, we help small business owners in the firearms industry find the right insurance to fit their needs. Contact us today to learn more.